Short and Tall Soldiers May Face Increased Depression Risk

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Young military men who are shorter or taller than the average
male may have a higher risk for depression than their fellow
servicemen, a new study suggests.

Although being shorter or taller than average can have an impact
on anyone's self-esteem, this effect may be amplified in the
military where physical prowess ranks high in importance, said
Valery Krupnik, a clinician at the mental health department of
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.

"When people find themselves outliers for reasons beyond their
control, like physical attributes, they face a challenge in
addition to all the challenges average people face," Krupnik told
Live Science. In the military, these challenges — which may
affect people's psychological well-being — become even more
intense, since recognition and progress in the ranks is partly
determined by physical attributes, Krupnik said. Military men
must "perform," and physical fitness is valued much more highly
than in other jobs, Krupnik said.

Along with colleague Mariya Cherkasova, a neuroscientist at
McGill University, Krupnik compared the medical records of 169
men in their 20s serving active duty in the military; all the
subjects were being treated for varying degrees of
depression.

The researchers divided people into three groups, according to
height: 1) men of average height, or 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet 1
inch (172 centimeters to 185 centimeters); 2) men shorter than
average, or less than 5 feet 8 inches; and 3) men taller than
average, or above 6 feet 1 inch. [ 7
Ways to Recognize Depression in 20-Somethings ]

When they compared the shorter and taller groups against the
group of men of average height, the researchers found an
association between height and increased risk of depression.

The scientists said they suspect that the perception of being
shorter affects the psychological well-being of some men, because
these men see themselves as physically inferior to others. For
tall men, the link to depression seems counterintuitive, since
tall height has been associated with
attractiveness. However, the researchers write that tall men
may have higher expectations for success, and so fall harder into
higher rates of depression when they fail.

The findings could help
prevent depression for men in certain height ranges, whether
tall or short. "The takeaway is for people [with shorter or
taller height] to come to terms with their height, with the fact
that they cannot change it," Krupnik said, adding that accepting
one's height could lead to higher self-esteem.

Some previous studies suggest that mental health problems linked
with height manifest before the teen years.

Krupnik also emphasized that the effect of physical attributes on
mental health applies to more than just men in the military.
"It's not particular to men, height or any other attribute. It's
all around. So people who find themselves outliers may want to
have an open mind and approach it head on instead of hiding away
from it."

The study was limited to men being treated for depression in the
military, so it remains uncertain if the findings apply to all
men. However, Krupnik said he hopes that future research can be
developed to help men of this particular subset avoid depression.